Willie J. Chestnut pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder without intent for killing his ex-girlfriend last year.

Chestnut, 55, killed Towanda F. Harris, 46, in a St. Paul apartment during a gathering with friends. He was drunk at the time, charges said.

According to the complaint: Police were called last May to an apartment in the 1400 block of Minnehaha Avenue E. around 5:30 p.m. where they found Harris with a stab wound to the upper chest.

Chestnut, his girlfriend and their 5-year-old son were visiting Harris and her husband in St. Paul at the time of the attack. Chestnut and Harris had dated in 2003.

The adults were drinking when Chestnut and Harris began arguing about their past. The two began hitting each other, and Chestnut knocked Harris to the ground.

Chestnut and Harris both grabbed knives, according to the complaint, and Chestnut stabbed Harris. Harris' husband told police that she was acting in self-defense.

Chestnut is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2.

CHAO XIONG